Case loader with article inverting mechanism

ABSTRACT

An infeed conveyor is provided for advancing upright articles in a plurality of lanes across a deadplate and into a lane defining grid as a result of line pressure from the articles advancing on the conveyor. Means is provided above each such lane for braking or holding back the articles on the deadplate so that discrete charges, or slugs of articles, can be formed in the grid. The grid is adapted to be retracted slightly, away from the deadplate, and to be rotated to an inverted position. Hinged doors on the grid are moved into contact with the upper end portions of the upright articles to hold them in the grid as it is so rotated. An empty packing case to be loaded is raised upwardly to receive the inverted articles in the grid, and the doors are then moved to their open positions causing the articles to drop downwardly onto the upwardly open packing case. Two embodiments of the invention are shown, one having a single grid, and the second having a double grid.

United States Patent Johnson vet al.

[ CASE LOADER WITH ARTICLE INVERTING MECHANISM Inventors: Lloyd D. Johnson; Kenneth E. Kroeber, both of Portland; John L. Raudat, North Madison, all of Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield,

u.s. Cl. ..53/61, 53/74, 53/248 Im. on. ..B65b 57/10 Field of Search ..53/6l, 74; 248, 392

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Birrell ..53/243 X Pearson ..5 3/243 X Nov. 14, 1972 Primary Examiner- Travis S. McGehee Attorney-McCormick, Paulding & Huber i571 ABSTRACT An infeed conveyor is provided for advancing upright articles in a plurality of lanes across a deadplate and into a lane defining grid as a result of line pressure from the articles advancing on the conveyor. Means is provided above each such lane for braking or holding back the articles on the deadplate so that discrete charges, or slugs of articles, can be formed in the grid. The grid is adapted to be retracted slightly, away from the deadplate, and to be rotated to an inverted position. Hinged doors on the grid are moved into contact with the upper end portions of the upright articles to hold them in the grid as it is so rotated. An empty packing case to be loaded is raised upwardly to receive the inverted articles in the grid, and the doors are then moved to their open positions causing the articles to drop downwardly onto the upwardly open packing case. Two embodiments of the invention are shown, one having a single grid, and the second having a double grid.

16 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures lllllllilllllfl-flllllllllll PATENTED 11m! 1 4 m2 saw 010? 11 'ATENTEDnuv 14 I972 3.702.524

SHEET 02 [1F 11 SOL 19a SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE SOL E [9O 3,702,524 SHEET DSDF 11 PATENTED um 14 m FIG. 6

PATENTEDImv 14 I972 SHEET 08 0F 11 95 woz g 0wmO 5 mmOOnT PATENTEDuuv 14 I972 SHEET 07 HF 11 INVENTORS. LLOYD D. JOHNSON KENNETH E. KROEBER JOHN L. RAUDAT ATTORNEYS SUMMARY OF INVENTION This application is a continuation of our earlier application of the same title filed Feb. 24, 1970, under Ser. No. 13,638, now abandoned.

This invention relates to packing case loading devices, and deals more particularly with a case loader which is adapted to receive successive charges, or slugs, or upright articles, from'a continuously operated infeed conveyor, and which case loader inverts these charges of articles so that they can be deposited in an upwardly open packing case. At least one multi-lane defining grid is r'otatably mounted at the downstream end of the infeed conveyor, and when its lanes are filled with articles soras to form a charge the grid is rotated to invert the articles in the grid. The grid is open at the top, and doors are provided thereon for holding the articles in the grid when said grid is rotated to its inverted position. The doors then control the release of the articles for free fall into the upwardly open packing case. Two such grids are mounted on a single frame in the preferred embodiment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a case loader which receives upright articles from an infeed conveyor, and which forms a charge of these articles and inverts them for loading into an upwardly open packing case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a case loader embodying the present invention, with the multi-lane defining grid portion thereof shown in its article receiving position. 7

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the multi-lane defining grid portion shown in its discharge positionin phanthom lines, and also shows a case to be loaded with its associated lift table in its raised and in its lowered position in phanthom and in solid lines respectively. v

FIG. 3 is an end view of the lane defining grid portion shown to a somewhat larger scale.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lane defining grid portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 0 FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

F 10.8 is a schematic view of the inverted position for the articles in the lane defining grid means, showing the doors in their closed position and the packing case to be filled in its elevated position.

FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the sequence of operation for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of the present invention.

FIG. 1 l is a plan view of the FIG. 10 apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the FIG. 10 apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a schematic end view of the FIG. 10 apparatus, and also shows a fixed funnel for use in handling articles other than those with narrow necks of the type shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the control circuitry for the apparatus of FIGS. 10-13.

FIG. 15 is an electrical schematic diagram showing Y circuitry similar to that of FIG. 9, but with components for operating push downs in an apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an apparatus such as shown in FIGS. 1-8, with push. downs added to accommodate wide mouth articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a line of articles A,A which are being fed toward the right in the direction of the arrow 12 by continuously operated infeed conveyor 10. Several side-byside lines of articles are being so fed, and the line pres sure of the upstream articles in each line urges the articles across a horizontally extending deadplate 14. Lane dividers 15,15 are provided for maintaining the integrity of each line and would also be provided above the infeed conveyor as well. Means is provided above each line of articles to hold them back against the line pressure of the upstream articles as the conveyor 10 continues to operate, and preferably said means comprises individual braking means, indicated generally at 16, associated with each line. An inverted ,U-shaped framework 18 supports several article braking means, each of which includes a solenoid operated device 20, with an associated plunger 32, for operation of a brake shoe 24, provided for this purpose at the lower end of the plunger 22 and adapted to engage the upper end of the article on the deadplate 14 when solenoid A (FIG. 9) is energized. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 three such solenoid operated devices are provided on the U- shaped support 18 and each device is associated with one of three side-by-side lane.

It will of course be apparent that any number of article lines might be provided depending upon the lane defining structure used on the conveyor, and upon the size and configuration of the packing case to be loaded.

As best shown in FIG. 4, lane defining grid means is provided for receiving the three lines of articles shown. Preferably said means comprises four vertically extending lane defining plates 30, 32, 34 and 36. Thus, when the braking devices 16,16 are de-activated as for example when solenoid J in FIG. 9 is energized in response to closing of limit switch LS-6, the articles are adapted to be advanced by line pressure across the deadplates 14 and thence onto the horizontally extending floor defining portions 38, 39 and 40, 41 and 42, 43 of the grid structure, between the plates 30, 32, 36 and 36 thereof, until progress of these articles is prevented as a result of the laterally extending stop member 44. The articles actually engage vertically extending plates 45,45 in each of the three lanes, which plates 45,45 are mounted on the stop member 44. Limit switches LS-l, LS-2, and LS-3 are mounted on the rear surface of the stop member 44 and are adapted to being closed as a result of pivotal movement of a depending lever 46 associated with each lane. The lever 46 has lower end portion 48 which protrudes through an opening or slot 50 provided for this purpose in each of the plates 45,45 and it will be apparent from FIG. 5 that when an article A has engaged the upstanding plate 45 on the stop member 44 such articles will have moved the lever 46 from a position wherein it protrudes through this opening or slot to the position shown in FIG. 5 thereby closing limit LS-3. It will also be apparent that when all three lane defining portions of the grid are so filled witharticles that all three article detector switches LS-l, LS-2 and LS-3 will be closed in the same manner. From FIG. 9 it will be seen that when these switches are so closed not only is solenoid A operated or energized engaging the line brake 16 but solenoid B is also energized closing a series of doors best shown in FIG. 8 at 52, 54, 56 and 58 and to be described in greater detail hereinbelow. In addition, time delay relay TDR-l is also energized at this point in the machines cycle.

Means is provided for adjusting the position of the stop member 44 longitudinally of the lane defining grid means, and preferably said means comprises hand wheels 60,60 which are adapted to releasably clamp brackets 62,62 against the lane defining plates 30 and 36 at either end of the stop member to hold said member 44 at a particular longitudinal position so as to permit accommodating a given number, or size of articles A,A to be loaded. Thus, it will be apparent that merely loosening or unscrewing the hand wheels 60,60 permits the operator to slide the stop member to a desired setting in the longitudinal direction for accommodating the given numbers or sizes of articles to be loaded.

Still with reference to the lane defining grid means of FIG. 4, a U-shaped inner frame 66 has leg portions 74 and 78 extending in the upstream direction on either side of the lane defining structure described hereinabove, and supports said structure from a pair of angle members 68,68 extending inwardly therefrom and carried on the sides of the lane defining plates 30 and 36. The leg portions 74 and 78 of the U shaped frame 66 are in turn slidably supported on longitudinally extending guides 70 and 72. FIG. 7 shows in detail the square cross section of the guide 72 and an associated bushing 73. These guides 70 and 72 are in turn supported from an outer frame 76, which outer frame in combination with the guide rods and a laterally extending cross beam 82 defines a closed rectangular shape.

The leg portions of the inner U-shaped frame 66 are thus slidably supported on the guide rods 70 and 72 respectively as a result of four slide bearings similar to the one shown in FIG. 7 so that the lane defining structure can be retracted from the position shown in solid lines to a position clear of the deadplates 14,14 as indicated by the phanthom lines in FIG. 4.

A short stroke linear fluid actuator motor 84 is mounted to the rectangular frame 76 and has its actuator 86 connected to the base of the U-shaped frame 66 for moving the U-shaped frame 66 between the solid line position shown wherein it is adapted to occupy a position in closely spaced relationship to the downstream end of the deadplates 14,14 and the phanthom line position suggested in FIG. 4 wherein the lane defining portion of the grid means is retracted clear of these deadplates 14,14 to separate the articles A,A in this area so that the structure just described can be rotated as suggested in FIG. 8.

Means is provided for rotatably supporting the U- shaped frame, and hence also the retractable lane defining portion of the grid means mounted thereupon, and preferably said means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced bearings 90 and 92 which permit the inner U-shaped frame and the rectangular outer frame 76 to be rotated about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on the infeed conveyor. This axis, indicated generally at 94 in FIGS. 1 and 4 is defined by a pair of stub shafts best shown in FIG. 1. The downstream shaft 96 carries a timing belt sprocket 100 on which a timing belt 102 is entrained. The timing belt 102 also passes over a drive sprocket 104 mounted on shaft 106, which shaft 106 comprises the output shaft of a rotary type fluid motor 108. The fluid motor is air operated in the clockwise direction under the control of solenoid I-I (FIG. 9) through limit switch LS-7, and is oscillatable in the counterclockwise direction under the control of solenoid D through time delay relay contacts TDR-l.

These contacts TDR-l also control solenoid C, which in turn control the sliding movement of the lane defining portion of the grid described hereinabove. Preferably, the rotational movement of the grid is delayed slightly with respect to retracting the grid in order to provide a proper clearance between the articles on the deadplate 14 and the articles in the grid. It has been found that the inertia of the grid structure resisting rotational movement about the axis of rotation 94 is enough greater than the inertia provided against the sliding motion of the U-shaped frame 66 so that this delay is in effect obtained without resorting to any electrical or other form of delay. It will be apparent that flow control devices might be provided in the air line to the rotary air motor 108 in order to more positively prevent rotation of the grid prior to retraction without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A depending shield or shirt 112 is provided on the cross member 82 and will of course rotate with the grid structure to prevent articles on the infeed conveyor from being advanced by the line pressure onto the inverted grid structure in the event of failure of the brake means 16,16. As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2 the skirt 112 will be rotated into an upright position upon inverting of the grid thereby preventing inadvertent release of the articles whenever the grid is so rotated to its inverted or discharge position.

Means is provided for retaining the charge of articles in the grid during rotation and preferably said means includes a linear fluid motor adjacent the downstream end of the lane defining portion of the grid for operation of the doors 52, 54, 56 and 58. Movement of these doors from the vertical or open positions shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, wherein they are aligned with their associated lane defining plates 30, 32, 34 and 36 respectively, to the closed positions shown in FIG. 8, is achieved through a linkage system connected to the doors and to the motor 120. The linear fluid motor has its cylindrical base portion pivotally connected to a bracket 122 carried on the rear face of a plate 65 forming a part of the lane defining portion of the grid structure its actuating rod 164 is connected to a crank arm 166, which crank arm 166 is keyed to an associated rock shaft 168. As best shown in FIG. 1 the shaft 168 defines an axis coincident with the hinge line 170 of the door 58 associated with the lane defining plate 36. Thus, oscillation of the arm 166 causes oscillation of the door 58 in response to reciprocation of the actuating rod 164 of the fluid motor 120.

The remaining doors 52, 54 and 56 associated with the lane defining plates 30, 32 and 34 respectively, are

simultaneously operated by push rod 172 and links 174 and 176 best shown in FIG. 3. More particularly, the doors 58 carries a stub shaft 177 for pivotally supporting one end of the push rod 172. The push rod 172 includes a rod end type bearing 178 rotatably supported on the stub shaft 177. The lower end of the push rod 172 also carries a rod end bearing 180, which is rotatably supported on the depending end of a crank arm 182 generally similar to the crank arm 166 described hereinabove. A rock shaft 184 is keyed to this depending crank am 182 and oscillates on an axis coincident with the hinge line associated with the opposite door 52 on the lane defining plate 30 opposite the plate 36. The two center doors 54 and 56 associated with lane defining plates 32 and 34 are operated in synchronism with the doors 52 and 58 by means of the cross links 174 and 176. Thus, it will be apparent that the linkage mechanism just described serves to operate the doors between the closed positions shown best in FIG. 8 and the open positions wherein the articles A,A are adapted to free fall from the lane defining grid at least when said grid is rotated to its invert or discharge position.

When the lane defining grid structure just described has been rotated by the rotary air motor 108 to its'invert, or discharge position, a limit switch LS-4 is closed energizing a solenoid E allowing air under pressure through a valve 190 to raise the lift table 192 mounted upon the upper end of an actuating rod 194 associated with a linear air cylinder 196. When the packing case reaches its raised position, limit switch LS-5 will close energizing solenoid F allowing air under pressure through a valve associated with the linear actuator 120 just described for opening the doors 52, 54, 56 and 58. Thus, when the packing case is arranged in position for receiving the upside down articles A,A the doors associated with retaining the articles in the inverted gnd will open allowing the articles to free fall into the packing case C. As so constructed and arranged, these doors serve the function formally provided in a conventional series of funnels associated with a conventional grid for filling a compartmented packing case of the type indicated generally at C. More particularly, as these doors open the articles in their inverted positions are guided during their free fall into the packing case and thus remain under full control reducing the likelihood of breakage associated with conventional free falling of upright articles into such a packing case.

Simultaneously with the energizing of solenoid F associated with the operation of the actuator 120 associated with these doors, a time delay relay TDR-2 is energized so that after a predetermined time delay, that is, one of sufiicient length to allow the articles to drop downwardly into the upwardly open packing case, the relay contacts TDR-2 will close energizing solenoid G associated with air valve 198 providing air under pressure to the opposite side of the air cylinder 196 to return the case lift table 192 from its raised to its lowered position. When the table has been lowered past some predetermined position limit switch LS-7 will be closed energizing solenoid H so as to cause the grid to rotate from its inverted to its article receiving position, and also energizing solenoid I causing linear actuator 84 to return the lane defining portion of the grid from its retracted position to its forward position adjacent the deadplates 14,14 in order to ready the structure for receiving a second charge of articles. Although the latter motion may occur prior to the former, no interference will be encountered because the grid contains no articles.

A second limit switch LS-6 associated with the rotating grid structure will be closed when the grid returns to its article receiving position causing solenoid J to be energized releasing the line brake actuators'20,20 allowing a second charge of articles to be fed into the grid structure. In order to cushion the degree oscillating movement of the grid structure, two hydraulic shock mounts are provided, as indicated generally at 220 and 240, adjacent the extreme edge portions of the rectangular outer frame 76 for cushioning the grid structure at its limit of travel in both directions. For example, the hydraulic shock mount 220 has a plunger 222 for engaging a fixed bracket 224 provided for this purpose in a fixed cross beam 226 in order to snub movement of the grid structure during its counterclockwise return travel from the invert to the article receiving position. This same bracket 224 will be engaged by a plunger 242 on the other hydraulic shock mount 240 when the grid structure has moved in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 1 10 from the article receiving position to the invert position. The fixed cross member 226 carries the bearing 92 for rotatably supporting the shaft 96 associated with oscillating movement-of the grid structure, and said cross beam 226 is supported at its extremities in any convenient structure, as for example the structure indicated generally at 244 and 246 respectively.

To summarize the operation of the above described 7 device an infeed conveyor 10 is adapted to feed discrete lines of articles A,A in the direction of the arrow 12 across deadplate means 14 into the multi-lane defining portion of a rotary grid. structure capable of receiving a charge of articles. These articles are held in the grid structure by hinged doors adapted to engage the upper end portions of the articles. A series line brakes 16,16 are adapted to restrain those articles on the deadplate so as to prevent the line pressure of articles on the conveyor 10 from interfering with invert movement of the grid structure. The grid structure includes means for retracting those articles in'the lane defining portion thereof so that the charge of articles can be rotated on an axis in line with the direction of movement of the articles on the conveyor through substantially 180 to an inverted position. This retract feature permits the line pressure of the articles A,A on the infeed conveyor to feed a charge of articles into the lane defining portion of the grid, and yet permits those articles in the grid to be freed from contact with the articles on the deadplate for rotation of the discharge position. When the charge or slug of articles in the grid structure has been rotated to the inverted or discharge position the doors are simultaneously opened allowing the articles to free fall into a packing case which has been positioned for receiving them. After a predetermined time delay, the packing case is lowered and the grid structure is returned to its article receiving position for accepting a second charge or slug of articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN FIGS. -14

The previously described embodiment shown in the drawings in FIGS. 1 through 9 inclusively relates to an invert grid mechanism wherein a single lane defining grid means is provided adjacent the downstream end of a conveyor and is rotatably supported on a shaft in line with the direction of movement of the articles on the conveyor for movement between the first or infeed position shown in FIG. 1 to a drop or inverted position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, and means is provided for sequentially oscillating the grid means between these two positions rotating said grid means alternately in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. The embodiment to be described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 14 inclusively shows on the other hand two such grid means located in diametrically opposed relationship with respect to the axis of rotation of a frame in which both grid means are supported. For the sake of simplicity only the essential points of difference will be emphasized in the description to follow.

As shown in FIG. 10 an infeed conveyor 10 is adapted to feed articles (not shown) in the direction of the arrow 12 so as to feed several side-by-side lines of articles into the first lane defining grid means indicated generally at 200. Line pressure of the articles on the infeed conveyor urge articles downstream thereof across a horizontally extending deadplate 14 between fixed lane dividers 15,15 into said lane defining grid structure 200. A second lane defining grid means 300 is provided in a frame structure rotatably supported on a shaft means provided adjacent the downstream end of the conveyor 10 generally similar to the shaft means described hereinabove with reference to the FIG. 1 embodiment.

Means is provided in the fixed frame of the apparatus shown in FIG. 10 for holding back articles on the infeed conveyor, and more particularly said means comprises a solenoid operated device having an associated plunger for operation of a brake shoe 24 provided for this purpose at the lower end of the plunger and adapted to engage the upper end of each article in each lane on the deadplate 14 when a solenoid A (FIG. 14) is energized. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three such solenoid operated devices are provided on the U- shaped support 18 and each such device is associated with one of the three side-by-side lanes defined by the dividers 15,15. The actual number of article lines provided on an apparatus of the present type will of course depend on the size and configuration of the packing case to be loaded.

As best shown in FIG. 11, and as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 4 in the first preferred embodiment, lane defining grid means is provided for receiving the three lines of articles shown, and preferably said means comprises four vertically extending lane defining plates 230, 232, 234 and 236. Thus, when the first lane defining grid 200 is located in the first or infeed position shown in FIG. 10, and when the line pressure of articles on the infeed conveyor has filled said grid with a predetermined number of articles in each of its lanes, solenoid A will be energized and the line brakes associated with each of the lanes on the deadplate 14 will be set. As in the previously described embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 11, limit switches LS-la, LS-2a, and LS-3a are provided for detecting the presence of such articles in each of the lanes in the grid 200. Each of these limit switches are mounted on a fixed stop member 244 in which a plurality of vertically extending plates 245, 245 are movably mounted for actuation of each of the individual lane detector switches LS-la, LS-2a and LS-3a through a lever 246 in the same manner as descrined hereinabove with reference to the FIG. 1 embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, these three series connected switches LS-la, LS-2a and LS- 3a, when closed, energize a control relay CR-l which has normally opened contacts 278 for energizing the solenoid A which sets the line brakes mentioned previously.

Still with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 14, each of the lane defining plates 230, 232, 234 and 236 carries adjacent its upper marginal edge a pivotally mounted doors 252, 254, 256 and 258 respectively, the operation of which doors is controlled by a pair of simultaneously actuated air motors 220, 220. These air motors 220, 220 are controlled in their operation by a solenoid B which is energized through a second set of contacts 280 of relay CR-l at the same time as solenoid A controlling the operation of the line brake described hereinabove with reference to the fixed deadplate 14. In addition to energizing solenoids A and B, closing of the limit switches LS-la, LS-2a and LS-3a and energizing of relay CR-l also serves to energize a time delay relay TDR-l, which time delay relay has a pair of delayed contacts 282 which close after a predetermined time delay resulting in the energizing of solenoid C which controls a grid cylinder 284, which cylinder performs the same function as the pancake cylinder 84 describer hereinabove with reference to the previous embodiment.

As best shown in FIG. 11, a U-shaped frame 266 generally similar to the U-shaped frame 66 described with reference to the first embodiment has leg portions extending in the upstream direction on either side of the lane defining grid structure 200, and supports the fixed frame of said structure from a pair of angle members 268, 268. These angle members extend inwardly from the U-shaped frame and carry the lane defining side plates 236 and 230 respectively. Slide bearings are provided for slidably supporting the grid so that the lane defining grid structure 200 can be retracted from the position shown in solid lines to a position clear of the deadplate 14 as described hereinabove with reference to the first embodiment. The pancake cylinder 284 performs this function in the FIG. 10 apparatus.

As in the previously described embodiment means is provided for rotatably supporting the U-shaped frame, and hence also the retractable lane defining portion of the grid structure 200, and preferably said means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced bearings 290 and 292 generally similar to the bearings and 92 described hereinabove. In place of the two stub shafts used in the previously described embodiment a longitudinally extending shaft 293 is provided for rotatably supporting the grid structure and this shaft is oriented in the direction of movement of the articles on the infeed conveyor 10. This shaft includes a projecting portion 295 which carries a timing belt sprocket 297 over which a belt is entrained. The timing belt 102 best shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the timing belt 102 described hereinabove with reference to the previous embodiment. As described hereinabove the motor 108 oscillates the shaft 293 and with it the grid structure 200 between the position shown and a position 180 in the clockwise direction as viewed upstream in FIG. 12, and oscillates said structure through the same 180 to return to the initial position shown. It is an important feature of the present invention that a second grid defining means indicated generally at 300 in FIG. 12 is provided in diametrically opposed relationship to the first grid 200 so that one of these grids is adapted to be receiving a group of articles while the second of such grids is adapted to be dropping a second charge of articles into anawaiting packing case located on a lift table as described above with reference to.the first embodiment. Thus, the principal difference between the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. through 14 comprises the provision of a second article receiving grid portion which in effect doubles the handling capacity of a case packer of the type described herein. Whereas in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 inclusively a depending shield or skirt 112 is provided for precluding the advancing of articles onto the grid structure when the grid structure is located in the drop position in the present embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 14 a second grid structure is provided precisely for receiving articles during this phase of the machine cycle.

The means for retaining the charges of articles in each of the grid structures 200 and 300 during rotation in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions respectively includes pairs of fluid motors 220 and 320 the function of which pairs of motors is substantially identical to that of the fluid motor 120 described hereinabove with reference to the first embodiment. The movement of these doors is indicated schematically in FIG. 13, which figure also shows for the inverted grid 300 a fixed funnel means 350 for guiding the downwardly dropped articles in the grid 300 into the upwardly open packing case C which case will have been previously positioned by a lift table or the like of the type described hereinabove with reference to the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The lengths of the various doors associated with each of the lane defining plates of the grid structures 200 and 300 preferably have a length which is determined by their distance from the center of rotation of the frame in which these grid structures are rotatably supported, and the upstream portions of the fixed funnel means 350 are preferably contoured to receive these doors as best shown in FIG. 13.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the sequence of operation of the structure described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13 inclusively FIG. 14 shows a control circuit in schematic fashion suitable for operation of this apparatus. While some of the same identification numbers and letters have been used in FIG. 14 as used hereinabove with reference to the control circuit shown in FIG. 9 for operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 inclusively the circuit itself is somewhat more complex in that more relays are required as well as additional lane detection switches for use on each of the two grid structures 200 and 300.

In the initial position shown in the drawings with the first grid structure in position for receiving a charge of articles from the infeed conveyor limit switches LS-la, LS-2a and LS-Sd will be closed, when the charge of articles has been received in the first grid 200, resulting in energizing of solenoid A time delay relay TDR-l and solenoid B. As mentioned hereinabove this serves to' set the line brake associated with the fixed deadplate 14 as well as to close those doors associated with the first grid 200. Time delay relay TDR-l has associated therewith normally open contacts which will be closed upon the expiration of a predetermined time delay energizing solenoid C allowing fluid under pressure to contact the grid retract cylinder 284 to provide clearance between the articles on the deadplate 14 and those in the first grid structure 200. When a case C has been provided on the left table limit switch LS-4 closes and clockwise rotation is possible at substantially the same time as the grid is retracted. The relative inertia of these motions permits such simultaneous initiation, but the grid retract will be accomplished before the clockwise rotation has been completed due to the relative inertia. While any convenient means might be used for raising the lift table 192 a solenoid J is provided for this purpose, and is energized when relay CR-7 is energized. Relay CR-7 is in turn controlled by contacts 284 of relay CR-S, which relay CR-S is energized by closing of a limit switch LS-9 on the grid structure to indicate that the desired of rotation has been completed. Thus, the lift table is raised when the first grid structure 200 has reached its inverted position.

When the lift table reaches its raised or up position, a limit switch LS-S closes energizing relay CR-8. Normally closed contacts 286 associated with relay CR-8 open to deenergize relay CR-3. Contacts 288 associated with relay CR-3 open to deenergize solenoid B and cause the doors of grid 200 to open thereby releasing the slug of articles to free fall through the funnel 350 into the packing case C.

A time delay relay TDR-3 has timed contacts 290 which will open, upon the expiration of a predetermined delay following arrival of the lift table at its up position, and thereby deenergize solenoid J causing the lift table to descend. While the lift table is descending, another charge of articles is being loaded.

Time delay relay TDR-l has contacts 292 which will have timed out upon the expiration of a delay following the closing of lane detection switches LS-la, LS-2a and LS-3q. Thus solenoid A will be deenergized allowing a second slug or charge of articles to be fed into the grid structure 300 which is now located opposite the downstream end of the infeed conveyor 10. Even as the line brakes are released, the fast acting grid retract cylinder is returned through a second set of timed contacts 294 associated with this relay TDR-2. The air lines to the line brake cylinders and to the retract cylinder are so designed that the grid is returned prior to release of the brake.

The second grid 300 is filled with articles and has associated lane detection switches LS-lb, LS-2b and LS- 3b which must be closed to energize relay CR-2. Relay CR-2, like relay CR-l, remains energized until relay CR-9 is energized so that reopening of these lane detection switches when the charge is dropped later in the cycle does not deenergize these control relays CR-l and CR-2.

Relay CR-2 has contacts 296 which close to energize solenoid A resetting the line brake prior to retracting the grid, and rotating it in the counterclockwise direction. When limit switch LS-4 detects a second case on the lift table 192 solenoid E is energized to rotate the grid in the counterclockwise direction. As the original grid position is reached limit switch LS-9 recloses energizing relay CR-6. Contacts 298 of relay CR-6 energize relay CR7 to raise the lift table and to start time delay relay TDR-2 for reopening its contacts 292 and 294. The remainder of the machine cycle is similar to that described above, limit switch LS-S recloses when the lift table has been raised to energize relay CR-S, deenergizing relay CR-3 opening contacts 288 of the latter deenergizing solenoid F to open the doors of grid 300. Again, when time delay relay TDR-3 has timed out its contacts 290 allow the lift table to be lowered by deenergizing solenoid J, and relay TDR-2 will have also timed out reopening contact 294 returning the grid and rotating it clockwise as described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE THIRD PREFERRED EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN FIGS. & 16

FIGS. 15 and 16 show still another alternative for the single lane defining grid means of FIGS. l-9 wherein the articles to be handled are not of the so called narrow neck variety shown in FIG. 8, but are instead of the so called wide mouth type shown schematically at A3 in FIG. 16. In handling the wide mouth containers a funnel 450 is preferably carried by the lane defining grid means, but is spaced from the hinged doors so as not to interfere with operation of these doors. In dropping narrow neck" containers such a funnel is not required as shown in FIG. 8, but in order to guide wide mouth articles into their proper cells in the packing case the use of a funnel has been found to be advantageous. A conventional funnel 450, with conventional spring fingers, will guide these wide mouth articles during their free fall.

Relatively heavy wide mouth articles, such as glass jars, spread these spring fingers as they drop downwardly into the packing case. In fact, one reason for utilizing a funnel with resilient steel spring fingers is to decelerate the free falling jars during their descent to prevent damage to such glass articles. However, in handling light weight plastic articles of wide mouth configuration, the funnel serves only to guide the articles into the appropriate cell of the packing case. Further, the plastic wide mouth" articles may not be heavy enough to spread the spring fingers and fall through the funnel. In this case a so called push down is preferably provided as shown in FIG. 16, with a plunger for each article to move from the solid line position shown to the broken line position upon actuation of a single air cylinder. This cylinder is spring returned by means of an internal compression spring (not shown) and actuate by air through a solenoid valve (not shown) in response to energizing solenoid K in the schematic of FIG. 15.

The FIG. 15 schematic is identical to that shown in FIG. 9, but for the addition of solenoid K, which solenoid is energized when the drop doors are opened through solenoid F. In order to return the push down plungers when they have accomplished their function a normally closed limit switch LS-8 on the rotating grid is opened as the plungers reach the broken line position deenergizing solenoid K allowing the return spring to retract the plungers prior to closing of the doors.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for depositing groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, the improvement comprising an infeed conveyor for advancing the articles in a plurality of lanes, lane defining grid means for receiving a charge of articles when in a first position ad- 2 jacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor,

means for rotating said grid means from said first position to a discharge position wherein the inverted charge of articles is free to fall downwardly into a packing case, means carried by said grid means for restraining said articles in said grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said grid means, and means for moving all of said doors from closed positions wherein each engages an upper portion of the articles in its associated lane and an open position wherein the articles are free to fall inverted from the grid means when said grid means is in its discharge position.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 further characterized by means carried on said grid means for moving said doors between said open and closed positions.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 further characterized by means for sliding said grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said conveyor while said grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means from said first position to said discharge position.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 further characterized by means for detecting the presence of a predetermined number of articles in the lanes of said grid means, and means responsive to said detecting means for applying said holding means to the articles on said conveyor and for closing said doors.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its discharge position for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 further characterized by means responsive to the elevation of said case to open said doors and allow the inverted articles to free fall into said case.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following the opening of said doors.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 further characterized by means responsive to the lowering of said filled case for rotating said grid means back to its first position.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its first position for releasing said article holding means on said conveyor so that the line pressure of the articles thereon causes another charge of articles to be fed into said lane defining grid means.

11. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by second lane defining grid means mounted to said first lane defining grid means for rotation therewith, said second lane defining grid means occupying said first position when said first grid means is in said discharge position and said second grid means characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said first and second grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor, means for sliding said first and second grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said infeed conveyor while said first and second grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting movement being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means between said two positions.

14. The combination recited in claim 12 further characterized by means for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles at said discharge position, said occupying said discharge position when said first grid means is in said first position.

12. The combination recited in claim 11 further characterized by second means carried by said second grid means for restraining articles therein during rotation and for releasing articles for free fall therefrom at said discharge station, said second means for restraining articles in said second grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said second grid means, and means for moving said doors on said second grid means.

13. The combination recited in claim 12 further case elevating means being carried out after rotation of said grid means between said two positions.

15. The combination recited in claim 14 further characterized by fixed funnel means for guiding the falling articles at said discharge station, and means responsive to the elevation of said cases to open said doors of the grid means at said discharge station to allow the inverted articles to free fall downwardly through said fixed funnel means into said upwardly open case.

16. The combination recited in claim 15 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following opening of said doors. 

1. In an apparatus for depositing groups of articles into upwardly open packing cases, the improvement comprising an infeed conveyor for advancing the articles in a plurality of lanes, lane defining grid means for receiving a charge of articles when in a first position adjacent the downstream end of said infeed conveyor, means for rotating said grid means from said first position to a discharge position wherein the inverted charge of articles is free to fall downwardly into a packing case, means carried by said grid means for restraining said articles in Said grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said grid means, and means for moving all of said doors from closed positions wherein each engages an upper portion of the articles in its associated lane and an open position wherein the articles are free to fall inverted from the grid means when said grid means is in its discharge position.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 further characterized by means carried on said grid means for moving said doors between said open and closed positions.
 3. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3 further characterized by means for sliding said grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said conveyor while said grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means from said first position to said discharge position.
 5. The combination recited in claim 4 further characterized by means for detecting the presence of a predetermined number of articles in the lanes of said grid means, and means responsive to said detecting means for applying said holding means to the articles on said conveyor and for closing said doors.
 6. The combination recited in claim 5 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its discharge position for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles.
 7. The combination recited in claim 6 further characterized by means responsive to the elevation of said case to open said doors and allow the inverted articles to free fall into said case.
 8. The combination recited in claim 7 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following the opening of said doors.
 9. The combination recited in claim 8 further characterized by means responsive to the lowering of said filled case for rotating said grid means back to its first position.
 10. The combination recited in claim 9 further characterized by means responsive to the rotation of said grid means to its first position for releasing said article holding means on said conveyor so that the line pressure of the articles thereon causes another charge of articles to be fed into said lane defining grid means.
 11. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized by second lane defining grid means mounted to said first lane defining grid means for rotation therewith, said second lane defining grid means occupying said first position when said first grid means is in said discharge position and said second grid means occupying said discharge position when said first grid means is in said first position.
 12. The combination recited in claim 11 further characterized by second means carried by said second grid means for restraining articles therein during rotation and for releasing articles for free fall therefrom at said discharge station, said second means for restraining articles in said second grid means comprising at least one door associated with each lane in said second grid means, and means for moving said doors on said second grid means.
 13. The combination recited in claim 12 further characterized by shaft means for rotatably supporting said first and second grid means for movement about an axis generally in line with the direction of movement of the articles on said infeed conveyor, means for sliding said first and second grid means axially on said shaft means, and means for holding back the articles on said infeed conveyor while said first and second grid means is shifted axially in the downstream direction, said axial shifting movement being carried out prior to rotation of said grid means between said two positions.
 14. The combination recited in claim 12 further characterized by means for elevating a case to receive said inverted articles at said discharge position, said case elevating means being carried out after rotation of said grid means between said two positions.
 15. The combination recited in claim 14 further characterized by fixed funnel means for guiding the falling articles at said discharge station, and means responsive to the elevation of said cases to open said doors of the grid means at said discharge station to allow the inverted articles to free fall downwardly through said fixed funnel means into said upwardly open case.
 16. The combination recited in claim 15 further characterized by timed means for lowering the filled case after a predetermined time following opening of said doors. 